§ Mr. Sorensenasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare, in view of the satisfactory and successful arrangement for supplying foodstuffs and other commodities to British people in the Channel Islands, whether any similar arrangement can be adopted for other parts of Europe in enemy occupation where urgent need is proven.
§ Mr. George HallI have been asked to reply. From the blockade aspect the Channel Islands are now in an almost unique position, since the German garrison can, of course, neither import nor export food supplies. Very different considerations arise if relief supplies are sent to occupied countries in direct communication with Germany. His Majesty's Government and the United States Government have nevertheless permitted relief supplies to be sent to occupied Allied countries, when they were satisfied that an urgent need existed and that due supervision of the distribution of these supplies was possible. Before the liberation of Poland certain relief was sent to that country from Switzerland and for a considerable time relief has been sent from Sweden to Norway. The scale of relief sent to Norway has recently been increased, and at the same time relief ships have been permitted to sail from Sweden to occupied Holland.